SPORT 16 FRIDAY 25 AUGUST 2017 Visitors watch a scale model of Al Thumama Stadium which was unveiled at Hamad International Airport in Doha yesterday. Picture by: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula. Scale model of Al Thumama Al Sadd’s Ali Alkrad prepares to score against Fuchse Berlin during their IHF Super Globe Stadium launched at HIA Tournament match played at Qatar Handball Association Hall in Duhail in this file photo. Armstrong Vas showcased at Al Bayt Stadium Al Thumama Stadium Qatar Foundation Stadium. The Peninsula in Al Khor. The gahfiya is a Stats and Facts Khalifa International Stadium, continuation of that,” he said. Qatar’s first tournament-ready Al Sadd ready as he Supreme Committee The stunning scale LOCATION: Al Thumama (six km south of Doha and five km venue, was officially opened for Delivery and Legacy model, which will be on pub- from Hamad International Airport). by the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim (SC) yesterday unveiled lic display until September bin Hamad Al Thani at the Emir a scale model of the Al 15, is located in the airport’s COMPLETION DATE: 2020 (construction began in 2016). Cup Final in May 2017. IHF Super Globe Thumama Stadium, one main departures hall close to Architect Jaidah said: “The Tof the eight stadiums which will the Untitled Lamp Bear art- 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR MATCHES: Al Thu- design reflects our identity. I host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, at work by Swiss artist Urs mama Stadium will host group stage and quarter-final looked towards several options matches. begins in Doha an impressive ceremony at Fischer, a now world- but gahfiya made a lot sense Hamad International Airport renowned artistic landmark and I used it as a metaphor of (HIA). that is seen by the 37m trav- CAPACITY DURING THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP QA- shelter. We had 17 people from The Peninsula The stadium’s design is based ellers that pass through the TAR: 40,000. The stadium’s capacity will decrease to all around the world that par- on the gahfiya headdress worn state-of-the-art airport each 20,000 after the tournament due to demountable seating, ticipated in putting together a atar’s Al Sadd’s will be looking to make the by men across the Arab world. year. a design feature central to Qatar’s bid. technical working stadium. The best out of home advantage as IHF Super The stadium’s design is envi- “Hamad International stadium is temperature con- Q Globe Handball Tournament begins in Doha sioned by renowned Qatari Airport will play a major role DESIGN INSPIRATION: Al Thumama’s design is based on trolled and fulfills all the today. architect Ibrahim M. Jaidah and in 2022 and be the main gate- the ‘gahfiya’, an essential component of traditional Arab international standards.” Al Sadd are aiming to replicate their past form is set for completion in 2020 and way for over a million players dress. “This stadium reflects the in the tournament, which they won in 2002 and will host 40,000 fans during the and fans who we’re expect- identity of the nation which came second twice in 2010 and 2014, and third in group stage and quarterfinal ing will visit Qatar when the COOLING TECHNOLOGY: Innovative and environmentally makes it stands out and unique 2012. matches of the 2022 FIFA World tournament kicks off. I could friendly cooling technology will be installed at Al Thumama in its own way. Al Thumama Al Sadd’s Algerian head coach Chouaib Kafi yes- Cup. not think of a better place to Stadium. The technology uses district cooling, air treatment meets all the international terday named a 16-man squad for the tournament, Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary launch our largest stadium and smart control systems to deliver an optimal environ- standards of a sophisticated which features the likes of defending champions -General of the Supreme Com- scale model other than HIA, ment for spectators and players alike. It will be able to lower state-of-art stadium,” he Fuchse Berlin of Germany, African runner-ups Espe- mittee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) as we continue to show the the temperature within the stadium to 18 degrees Celsius. added. rance Sportive de Tunis, Asian runner-ups Naft and said symbolism associated with progress we are making and During the unveiling cere- Gaz Gachsaran, Oceania champions Sydney Uni- the gahfiya-inspired design is demonstrate the amazing design was officially launched by mony, Qatar Airways Group versity, Pan American Club Championship winners multifaceted. stadiums and tournament fea- the SC on August 20. Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker EC Pinheiros of Brazil, European champions RK “We’ve always been very tures fans and players alike can It is the sixth stadium design and Eng. Badr Mohammed Al Vardar and Barcelona, along with the hosts Al Sadd. careful to combine the past with expect when they visit us in to be unveiled, and follows Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at The hosts open their campaign against Sydney the future when it comes to our 2022,” said Thawadi. Wakrah Stadium, Al Bayt Sta- Hamad International Airport wel- University at the Duhail Complex today. designs. This is already The Al Thumama Stadium dium, Al Rayyan Stadium, and comed the guests. Also today, Esperance Sportive take on Barce- lona, Macedonian side RK Vardar play Iran’s Naft and Gaz Gachsaran, and defending champions Fuchse Berlin of Germany take on Pan American Barshim extends Diamond League dominance champions EC Pinheiros of Brazil. The semifinals are scheduled for August 26 before the final match which takes place two days Chinthana Wasala Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar celebrates after winning gold later. The Peninsula medal at the IAAF Athletics Diamond League meeting in The organising committee for the event, headed Zurich, Switzerland yesterday. by Qatar Handball Association (QHA) President atar’s world champion Ahmad Al Shaibi also include Mohamed Al Jaber, Mutaz Essa Barshim flew Tournament Director, Khalifa Tayseer alJassim, Qover 2.36metres to extend Head of Sports Operations Committee, Adel Al Anzi, his dominance in the men’s high Head of Financial Committee, Hamad Mesfer Al jump at the penultimate edition Naimi, Head of Support and Coordination Commit- of the IAAF Diamond League in tee, Nasser Shahin Al Kaabi, Head of Protocol Zurich, Switzerland yesterday. Committee and Abdullah Taleb Al Marri, Head of The star athlete cleared the Media Committee. gold medal winning height in his The tournament is being held in Doha for the third attempt, after Majed Aldin eighth straight time. Ghazal of Syria settled in for a sil- Meanwhile, Qatar International Handball Tour- ver medal with a 2.31 nament for youths will kick-off at the same venue metre-effort. on the sidelines of the Super Globe Tournament Ukrain’s Bohdan Bondarenko with the participation of Qatar, Oman and Iran. also had 2.31 metres in front of Oman and Iran will contest the opening match his name, but was awarded the at 10 a.m. before Qatar take on Oman at 4 p.m. bronze medal. The tournament continues on Saturday when Great Britain’s Mo Farah won Qatar face Oman at 10 a.m. and Iran at 4 p.m. The a thrilling 5,000m in the final three teams will take Sunday off before resuming track race of his career yesterday. matches on Monday with a match between Oman The 34-year-old, who has four and Iran at 10 a.m. and then Qatar playing Iran at Olympic titles, will concentrate 4 p.m. on road races. Farah took gold in the “I have enjoyed running in lost to Shaunae Miller-Uibo of The tournament is part of Qatar’s preparations Chased down in the final 100 10,000m at the World Champi- stadiums for a lot of years, but Bahamas (21.88) in the women’s for the eighth Asian championship next summer, metres by Ethiopia’s new world onships in London this month now first of all I will enjoy being 200metres while the World which qualifies for the world championship in 2019. champion Muktar Edris, Farah before losing his 5,000m crown, with my family.” Champion, Dafne Schippers of QHA aims to prepare the national team in order won narrowly in a time of 13 min- then won his final British track In the men’s 1500 metres, Tim- Netherlands missed a podium fin- to compete for the three world championship berths. utes 06.05 seconds. race in Birmingham. othy Cheruiyot (3:33.93), Silas ish Another champion from the The Maroon missed the last edition in Georgia after American Paul Chelimo was “I wanted to win, and it is Kiplagat (3:34.26) and Elijah Man- London worlds, Caster Semenya taking part in the first six tournaments in Doha 2005, second as Edris, Farah’s con- amazing that I have won, but it angoi (3:34.65), all from Kenya, of South Africa clocked 1:55.84 in Bahrain 2007, Tunisia 2009, Argentina 2011, Hun- queror at London 2017, fell diving was hard work,” said Farah. “I will swept away all three podium spots. the women’s 800m to bag the gary 2013 and Russia 2015. for the line. miss the track, the people, my fans. Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson gold. FRIDAY 25 AUGUST 2017 SPORT 17 Al Attiyah in search of maiden Lebanon Rally victory Beirut Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah The participants include Kuwaiti QNA is seeking to secure the title for the Mishari Al Theffiri, Jordanian Assem first time in his career in order to Aref and a large group of Lebanese he International Rally of Leb- put an end to the dominance of Leb- drivers including Abdo Feghali.